Altitude questions.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Altitude questions.
Recently bought an 05 Dyna Lowrider. I live in the Denver area about 3000 feet above where the bike came from. Bike backfires somewhat frequently and seems to lack top end power, almost sounds like its only firing on one cylinder on the top end. Doing oil and plugs tomorrow and will adjust the carb also just to see what if any improvement I can achieve but is jetting something thats fairly straight forward for a mechanically inclined garage wrench or should I just take it to a shop? Thank in advance.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,040
Likes: 12,960
From: Texas, USA
Adjusting and rejetting a carb is very easy. Check out the video below and see if it is within your abilities. Post back how things went.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIN-a...el=PacificMike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIN-a...el=PacificMike
Last edited by Bone Doc; Sep 7, 2020 at 01:32 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,540
Likes: 1,836
From: Albuquerque, NM
I live in Albuquerque, same elevation as Denver. The stock CV carburetors that were installed on that era Harleys run fine at this elevation. Changing the jetting will help improve the performance, especially if you open up the intake and exhaust, but it shouldn't be running poorly with stock jetting.
That's a fifteen year old bike, I suspect that some of the passages and the jets may be gunked up with gas that's gone to varnish, especially if the previous owner has let it sit for a long periods of time. How many miles are on it?
Another thing that can happen with CV carbs that have been sitting is that the slide diaphragm can stiffen up and get slightly brittle and then develop tiny cracks or pin holes in them. If air can get through the diaphragm it will run poorly.
The last thing I can think of would be a hole in the float. Those babies really need to float, not sink.
If it was mine I'd check all that and probably do a rebuild before chasing down jetting problems.
Good luck with it.
That's a fifteen year old bike, I suspect that some of the passages and the jets may be gunked up with gas that's gone to varnish, especially if the previous owner has let it sit for a long periods of time. How many miles are on it?
Another thing that can happen with CV carbs that have been sitting is that the slide diaphragm can stiffen up and get slightly brittle and then develop tiny cracks or pin holes in them. If air can get through the diaphragm it will run poorly.
The last thing I can think of would be a hole in the float. Those babies really need to float, not sink.
If it was mine I'd check all that and probably do a rebuild before chasing down jetting problems.
Good luck with it.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 1,067
From: Ohio
If you don't want to mess with it and want that carb dialed in look up Dales Killer Carbs on eBay. He did mine for my 04 and it was perfect. No hard starts hot or cold. It didn't matter where I was or how cold it was outside.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,540
Likes: 1,836
From: Albuquerque, NM
I just checked that guy out. https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...gAAMXQVERS-6J0 Seems like a pretty sweet deal.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 1,067
From: Ohio
I just checked that guy out. https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...gAAMXQVERS-6J0 Seems like a pretty sweet deal.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 38
From: NE Illinois
I just checked that guy out. https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...gAAMXQVERS-6J0 Seems like a pretty sweet deal.
Another thumbs up for Killer Carbs. I had Dale add the extended screws for the idle speed and low speed mixture.
Another thumbs up for Killer Carbs. I had Dale add the extended screws for the idle speed and low speed mixture.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
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From: Colorado
A thousand apologies....
Sorry it took me sooo long to get back to this post. Ill spare you the boring details but suffice it to say life got crazy for a couple months. I greatly appreciate the feedback and will be replying to your inpunt individually. Thanks again.
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Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Adjusting and rejetting a carb is very easy. Check out the video below and see if it is within your abilities. Post back how things went.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIN-a...el=PacificMike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIN-a...el=PacificMike